Apparatus for raising railroad tracks



Aug. 28, 1956 KERSHAW 2760,44)

APPARATUS FOR RAISING RAILROAD TRACKS Filed Feb. 11, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 wfi Aug. 28, 1956 R. e. KERSHAW 2,760,440

APPARATUS FOR RAISING RAILROAD TRACKS Filed Feb. 11, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 28, 1956 R. G. KERSHAW 2,760,440

APPARATUS FOR RAISING RAILROAD TRACKS Filed Feb. 11, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 9 4= q 2 73 7; 28 76R I 74 {/77 L ILL 6- 7 //4 I [777 /k// r 1 INVENTOR.

' ROY Cf 6/1750/1/ KEPJf/AW Aug. 28, 1956 R. 5. KERSHAW 2,760,440

APPARATUS FOR RAISING RAILROAD TRACKS I Filed Feb. 11, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 i i i .52 fix-x l 1 I L9 53/ 5) 5% fly v INVENTOR.

BY Ful- 6 71 new: y:

Aug. 28, 1956 R. G. KERSHAW 2,760,440

APPARATUS FOR RAISING RAILROAD TRACKS Filed Feb. 11, 1954. 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 L A[:l O

INVENTOR. ROYCE G/DEO/V FEARS/MW BYw'zuz-k Arr n/vs Y5 United States Patent 2,760,440 APPARATUS FoR RAISING RAILROAD TRACKS Royce Gideon Kershaw, Birmingham, Ala., assignor to Kershaw Manufacturing Company, Inc, Montgomery, Ala., a corporation of Alabama Application February 11, 1954, Serial No. 409,729 9 Claims. .(Cl. 104-7 This invention relates to apparatus for raising railroad tracks for the purpose of rehabilitating the track, that is, for such operations as surfacing, retimbering, reballasting or any other operation wherein the rails or rails and cross ties must be raised from the roadbed.

An object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the character designated by which a single operator may do the work of raising the track which at present and by manual means requires a gang of from about 4 to 8 men, and at the same time, to accomplish the track raising operation with more accuracy and elficiency than with hand methods.

My invention contemplates apparatus in which either rail and attached ties selectively may be raised, or, if desired, both rails may be raised simultaneously, either to the same height above the original tie bed or to different heights above the original bed, thus providing an all around, universal apparatus which may be used to position each rail at the desiredelevation.

My invention contemplates a vehicle adapted to run upon the rails and having essentially two frame components, namely, a lower frame to which are secured wheels and track engaging dogs, and an upper frame, movable vertically relative to the lower frame, together with means engaging the roadbed between the cross ties for raising the upper frame relative to the lower frame and also in which there are links connecting the rail gripping means to the upper frame, whereby, upon upward movement of the upper frame the entire vehicle, rails and attached ties are raised upwardly.

My invention contemplates lifting apparatus in which the lifting member or foot has fluid pressure cylinders, or the like, adjacent each end thereof, in combination with rail gripping members, the foot being disposed to rest on the roadbed between the cross ties, whereby upon energizing the cylinders the entire vehicle, rails and ties are raised upwardly.

My invention further contemplates a main frame carrying wheels that run on the rails and which also carries automatically actuated rail gripping dogs together with a lifting frame movable vertically relative to the main frame which carries the fluid pressure cylinders and the lifting foot, in combination with links directly connecting the upper frame to the gripping means.

A further object is to provide apparatus of the character designated which embodies a frame arrangement of the character indicated in which the dogs are directly connected to the upper frame through tension or pull members whereby the upward lift of the entire apparatus is directly transmitted to the rails without substantial loading of any of the portions of the device.

A still further object is to provide apparatus having the foregoing advantages in which the rail gripping members automatically adjust themselves to rails of different sizes within practical size ranges, permitting the vehicle to be used'on a large number of different rail sizes without change in the structure thereof, or requiring any manual adjustments of the unit.

Patented Aug. 28, 1956 Apparatus illustrating features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a partof this application in which:

' Fig. l is a side elevational view of my improved apparatus with the rail gripping dogs in disengaged position;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view, certain of the parts being broken away for the sake of clarity;

Pig. 3 is a plan view of my improved apparatus with certain of the parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line IV-IV of Fig l; I

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally along line V-V of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line VIVI of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line VII-VII of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a detail side elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an isometric view of one of the rail gripping dogs removed from the remainder of the apparatus;

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the hydraulic system for one of the cylinders used for raising one rail of the track;

Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating the hydraulic system for the other cylinder used for raising the other rail of the track and which also includes a reversible fluid pressure motor for propelling the vehicle along the railroad track;

Fig. 12 is a fragmental cross sectional view showing a slightly modified form of lifting mechanism or upper frame assembly; and,

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a leveling device which may be employed to indicate the differences in elevation between the rails of the track.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive, it will be seen that my improved apparatus embodies a main or lower frame having longitudinal side channels 10 and 11. At the ends of the channels iii and 11 are cross channels 12 and 13 which serve to make a rigid frame. Near the center of the frame, spanning the longitudinal channels 16 and 11, are other parallel cross channels 14 and 16 which are secured in suitable manner as illustrated to the tops of the longitudinal channels.

Secured under the channels 10 and 11 are journal boxes 17 and 18 in which are journaled cross axles 19. The axles carry flanged wheels 21 disposed to run upon the railroad rails 15' in the manner well understood. The rails are supported on cross ties 22 and are held to the cross ties by spikes 23.

The lower frame of the vehicle may also carry brakes 2 5 which are actuated by a linkage mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 26 and which may be applied manually by means of a hand lever 27 as shown in Fig. 3.

The upper frame comprises a pair of transverse angles 28 and 29, parallel to each other and having cross angles 31 and 32 at the ends thereof. The angles 28 and 29 are strengthened in vertical planes by means of V-shaped trusses 33 and 34 which may be formed of angles welded to the tops of the angles 23 and 29.

The lifting or upper frame is supported for vertical movement relative to the lower frame. This mounting comprises a pair of plates 36 and 37 which are welded on top of and below the channels 14 and 16, adjacent the longitudinal mid-point thereof. Secured in the plates as by welding is a vertically upstanding pin 38.

The upper frame angles 28 and 29 carry bearing blocks 39 and 41 respectively for receiving the outer ends of short shaft members 42 and 43. The inner ends of the shaft members 42 and 43 are welded to a sleeve 46 3 which slidably receives the Spanning the angles 28 and 29 are plates 47 and 48.

V Mounted on the plates 47 and 48 arevertically disposed fluid pressure cylinders 49 and 51, respectively. "The cyli'nders'49 and 51 have pistons 49av and 151a1respectively,

' and piston rods 4% and 511), respectively. .The cyltails of which are shown more particularly in Figs. 7 and. 8. Since both of the sleeves are identical a description of one will suihce for both. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8,

the sleeves 52 are disposed between a pair ofan'glesor plates 53 and 54. The angles or plates are provided with slots 56. Passing through the slots and through the sleeves 52 are pins '57 which'are slidable in the slots 56 and which pivotally connect the sleeves to the angles or plates 53 and 54. "The angles or plates 53 and 54 form in effect the lifting foot of the apparatus which is to be pressed downwardly between the cross ties; Dueto the sliding connection 56 as willlater appear, one of the rails may be raised to different elevation from the other.

.Welded beneath the channels 14 and 16 at eachend thereof are depending plates 58 and 59. The plates are provided with aligned vertically disposed slots 61. Passing through the slots 61 and movable vertically therein is a pin 62. v Secured to the pin 62 are ,C-ahaped rail clamping units or dogs 63. The lower ends of the jaws of the C- shaped units are cross connected by means of a plate 64. Each of the dogs has an inward extension or arm 66.

Pivotally connected to pins 67 passing through the extension 66 of the dogs and to pins 68 carried by depending lugs 69 on the connecting angles 31 and 32' are links or tension members 71. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and ithe inner edges of the plates 58 and 59 may also be welded to the vertical sides of the channels 10 and 11.

Inwardly of the depending brackets 69, and welded across the tops of the channels .14 and 16 are short lengths of channels 72 with the flanges thereof abutting.

This arrangement forms passages 73. Depending from the sides of the angles 2d and 29 are sets of lugs or ears 74 which, when the upper frame is in its lowermost position, lie at each end of the passages 73 between the channels 72. When it is desired to lock the upper frame against; movement relative to the lower frame as when lifting the device from the track by the eye 76, pins 77 may be inserted through the brackets 74 and thechannels 72. This prevents the dogs 63 from engaging the pin 38. The upper frame is thus slidably-mounted on the pin 38.

4 type to admit fluid under pressure from the pump to the respective *fluid pressure device and "simultaneously to return fluid to the tank 83 or 84.

Mounted on the apparatusin view ofthe operator,

such as on the base 5! for the valve assembly, is a bracket 89 for supporting a spirit type levelSS. The level is provided with suitable graduations 90 whereby the operator can readily see if the trackis levelor which-sidethereof needs to' be raised or lowered in order to level the same.

-In Fig-l2 Ishow a slightlymodified form of my invention in which the angles 28a. and 29a areelongatedto provide overhanging ends which project beyond the ends of the cross ties 22 of the railroad track. In this instance the hydraulic cylinders 101 and 102 are mounted on the outer projecting ends of theangl'es. Piston rods 101a and 1321 are provided with lengths of angles 103 and 104.

which serve to engage the roadbed outwardly of the cross ties in order to lift the track and cross ties. The dogs 63, the relative vertical sliding arrangement between the frames and the remaining mechanism other than that specifically mentioned are substantially identical to that already described. The modified form of my invention is used in those cases wherein it is desirable to keep the rails, permitting the entire apparatus to be lifted from.

the track as required.

, The pairs of channels 72 serve also as means to limit the downward movement of the upper frame relative to the lower frame. As clearly shown in the drawings, when inthe lowermost position the angles 28 and 29 rest on the short links of channels 72.

Mounted on the lower frame in suitable manner is an internal combustion engine indicated generally at 78. The shaft 79 of the engine drives a pair of hydraulic pumps 81 and 82. The pump 82 is supplied with fluid from a supply tank 83 and the pump 81 is supplied from asupplytank 84. I

7 Also mounted on the lower frame is a reversible fluid motor 86 which drives the input shaft 88 of a two speed forward and reverse transmission such as the sliding gear type indicated generally by the numeral 89 and which has a gearshift lever 91 extending therefrom. The output shaft 92 of the transmission'drives one of the axles 19 through a sprocket chain 93.. Fluid for the motor 86 center of the track between ther ails clear for operations while'the track is raised.

From the foregoing the method of constructing and using my improved track raising mechanism will be readily understood. Itwill be seen that with my improved apparatus the entire track including the rails and ties may be raised-to permit the packing of ballast under the ties during rehabilitation of the track or for any other operationwhere the raising of the track is necessary. When the lifting foot comprisingtheangles or plates 53 and S4 or the individualangles 103 and 104 are lowered to the ground, continued downward movement of the piston rods of the fluid pressure cylinders first pivots the track engaging dogs 63 about the pins 62, causing them to engage the vertical webs of the rails. Continued upward movementof the upper frame draws the plate 64 snugly up under the ballsof the rails. The entire lifting force is transmitted directly from the upper frame through the links 71 to the extensions 66 of the gripping members 63, thus afiording a substantially straight upward lift with a minimum of strain on the parts. siredfto raise one rail higher than the other the indie vidual hydraulic systems and control valves permit the operator toraise or lower one end of the foot, or one of gripping rails of considerable variance inheight.

In actual practice I have found that my improved apparatus is fully effective for its intended. purposes and that it enables; oneloperator to replace a large number of men when raising tracks for ballasting or otherwise.

While I haveishown my invention in but two forms, it

willbe obvious to thosejskilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the'spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

WhatIclaim is: l. In, apparatus for raising a railroad track from its roadbed, 'a vehicle comprising a frame having wheels adapted to'run upon the rails of the track, a lifting frame,

is taken from the pump 81 as indicated in Fig. ll. The

hydraulic cylinder 51 ,is undercontrol of a valve 94 whereas the motor 86 isunder control of a hydraulic valve- 96. In like manner, a valve 97 controls the'flow of fluidto the cylinder. 49. .The several valves are-of the -means mounting thelifting frame for movement in a vertical plane relative to the vehicle frame, means on the lifting frame engageable with and operable to exert a downping units pivotally couuected v to said. vehicle frame,

In the event it is depivoted linkage connections between the lifting frame and the rail gripping units operable in response to upward movement of the lifting frame to move the said gripping units into gripping engagement With the rails, said pivoted linkage connections transmitting the lifting forces substantially directly from the lifting frame through the rail gripping units to the rails.

2. In apparatus for raising a railroad track from its roadbed, a vehicle comprising a frame having wheels adapted to run upon the rails of the track, a lifting frame, means mounting the lifting frame for movement in a vertival plane relative to the vehicle frame, downwardly movable means on the lifting frame engageable with and operable to exert a downward force on the roadbed and thereby effective to move the lifting frame vertically relative to the vehicle frame, rail gripping dogs pivoted to the vehicle frame and engageable with the outer sides of the rails beneath the balls thereof, extensions on the dogs projecting inwardly of the pivot points of the dogs, and links pivotally connected to the lifting frame and to the extensions on the dogs and movable in response to upward movement of the lifting frame to move said gripping dogs into gripping engagement with the rails.

3. In apparatus for raising railroad tracks, a vehicle having a frame carrying Wheels adapted to support the vehicle on the rails, an upper lifting frame mounted on the vehicle frame for movement vertically thereof, rail gripping dogs, means mounting the dogs on the vehicle frame for pivotal movement toward the rails and for upward movement relative to the vehicle frame, fluid pressure jack means embodying a pair of relatively movable parts, means securing one of said parts to the lifting frame with the other thereof disposed to contact the roadbed of the track, means to supply fluid under pressure to the jack means whereby a downward force is exerted on the road bed and the lifting frame is raised and lowered, and tension members connecting the lifting frame to the dogs operable upon initial upward movement of the lifting frame to pivot the dogs into contact with the rails and then move them upwardly to engage under the balls of the rails.

4. In apparatus for raising the railroad track from its roadbed, a vehicle having a frame and wheels supporting the same from the rails, a lifting frame on top of the vehicle frame mounted for vertical movement relative to the vehicle frame, a pair of fluid pressure cylinders having piston rods mounted substantially vertically on the lifting frame with the piston rods thereof extending downwardly to exert thrust against the roadbed whereby said lifting frame is raised and lowered, pivotally mounted dogs on the vehicle frame disposed to contact the outer sides of the rails beneath the balls of the rails, said dogs being mounted for upward sliding movement relative to the vehicle frame, extensions on the dogs extending inwardly of the pivot points thereof, rigid links pivotally connecting the extensions of the dogs to the lifting frame, and means to admit fluid under pressure to the upper ends of the cylinders.

5. In railroad track raising apparatus, a vehicle having a frame supported by wheels upon the rails, an upper frame mounted above the vehicle frame for movement vertically of the vehicle frame, means carried by the upper frame having roadbed engaging elements effective when so engaged to exert a downward force on the roadbed and raise the upper frame relative to the vehicle frame, rail gripping members pivotally and vertically slidably carried by the vehicle frame, and pivoted linkage connections between the upper frame and the said rail gripping members operable to hold the rail gripping members out of rail engaging position when the upper frame is lowered and to move the same to rail gripping position when the said upper frame moves a distance upwardly of the vehicle frame.

6. In apparatus for raising railroad tracks, a vehicle having a frame and wheels supporting the vehicle for movement on the rails of the track, an upper frame mounted for vertical movement relative to the vehicle frame, a pair of vertically disposed hydraulic cylinders having piston rods projecting from the lower ends thereof mounted in substantial transverse alignment on the upper frame between the rails of the railroad track, a roadbed engaging member pivotally connected adjacent each end to the lower ends of the piston rods and disposed to contact the roadbed between the cross ties of the track, pivotally and vertically slidably connected rail gripping dogs on the vehicle frame which overhang the outer sides of the rails When disengaged, extensions on the dogs extending inwardly of the pivot points thereof, rigid links pivotally connected to the upper frame and to the extensions of the rail gripping dogs, and means to admit fluid under pressure selectively to the upper ends of said cylinders whereby the piston rods move downwardly pressing the lifting member against the roadbed thereby raising the upper frame and pivoting the dogs against the sides of the rails.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which the upper frame is mounted on the vehicle frame by means of a vertically disposed pin secured to the vehicle frame, together with a slidable connection between the upper frame and said pin.

8. In track lifting apparatus, a vehicle having a frame and Wheels for supporting the frame upon the rails, an upper frame having means thereon engageable with the roadbed for raising the upper frame relative to the vehicle frame, rail engaging dogs pivotally mounted on said vehicle frame and overhanging the outer side of the rails, links connecting the dogs and the upper frame and operable upon upward movement of the upper frame to pivot the dogs into engagement with said outer sides of the rails, and manually removable means for locking the frames in lowered position relative to each other when raising the apparatus from the track.

9. In track raising apparatus, a vehicle having a frame and wheels supporting the frame upon the rails, an upper frame mounted for vertical movement relative to the vehicle frame, said upper frame having sidewise extensions projecting outwardly past the rails, fluid pressure cylinders mounted vertically on the upper frame adjacent the outer ends of the extensions and having piston rods disposed to move downwardly into contact with the roadbed outside of the rails, rail gripping dogs pivotally and vertically slidably mounted on the vehicle frame, pull links connecting the dogs to the upper frame operable upon upward movement of the upper frame to pivot the dogs into rail gripping engagement with the rails, and means to admit fluid under pressure to the upper ends of the cylinders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 857,572 Amey June 25, 1907 978,858 Devitt Dec. 20, 1910 1,458,402 Forsberg June 12, 1923 1,572,643 Falkner Feb. 9, 1926 1,733,520 Talboys Oct. 29, 1929 1,845,594 Fildes Feb. 16, 1932 1,855,665 Campbell et a1. Apr. 26, 1932 1,977,276 Holt et a1 Oct. 16, 1934 

